Improvement in daguerreotype apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DAGUERREOTYPE APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 10,225, dated November 15, 1853.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BROWN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus Employed in the Daguerreotype Process; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view of an embellished background. Fig. 2 is a front view of an ornamental diaphragm. Fig. 3 is a front view of the lower part of the diaphragm with a movable name-piece. Figa is a section of the same. Fig. 5 is a back View of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable frame for the diaphragm. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the background and diaphragm for use. Fig. 8 represents a picture taken With the aid of my improvements.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures.

The nature of this invention consists in the employment of an ornamental diaphragm with a suitable opening placed in a suitable position in front of the person or subject to be represented for the purpose of producing a portrait or picture with an appropriate or tasteful ornamental border either with or without the name of the person or subject and the name of the artist. The diaphragm may be and will be mostly used in conjunction with a background such as is now sometimes used illustrative of the character of the person Or subject represented.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the background, which may be a wall or any fixed or movable surface like the backgrounds now used. It may have any scene or device represented upon it by painting or in any Way delineating on its Hat surface or in relief.

` B is the diaphragm, which may be of Wood, metal, paper, or any suitable material, and may be square Or of any other shape with an opening a of any shape to allow the person or subject to be presented to the camera, and to represent the inner edge of the Ornamental border. This diaphragm should be adjustable at different elevations and either vertically or at dierent inclinations, and therefore I propose to use the frame shown in Fig. 6, which consists of a swinging frame C, hung on pivots in a standing frame I) and having grooves to receive the sides of the diaphragm B. Certain means should be provided for confining either the frame C or the diaphragm in any position. The front of the diaphragm may be ornamented in any way by work in relief, or by drawing, painting, Or otherwise representing any ornaments or devices, and may have the name of the artist either permanently inscribed or put on in such a way as to be taken off. It may also have an opening, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, to receive a panel or tablet b with the name vof the subject or person or Wit-h any other inscription. The diaphragm is brought to any suitable position and distance from the pern son or subject to be represented, according to the part required to be shown. The effect produced by the ornamental diaphragm is a picture having the appearance of a great degree of finish; but by the combination of the ornamental diaphragm and the embellished background I produce a picture of very highly-iinished appearance such as has never been produced by the daguerreotype process.

Having thus fully described my invention, I will proceed to state WhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The employment Of a diaphragm B with a suitable Opening a, through which the person or subject is presented tO the camera when the said opening is surrounded by ornament or embellishment, substantially as described, for the purpose of producing a portrait or picture with an Ornamental or embellished border.

' JAMES BROWN.

Vitnesses:

O. D. MUNN, N. N. ELY. 

